Garment hanger attachment



April 1, 1952 w. L. TAUB 2,591,387

GARMENT HANGER ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 28, 1948 JNVENTOR. Z5" WlLLlAM L- TAUB 56 M1/Mam@ Patented Apr. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT HANGER ATTACHMENT William L. Taub, Bronx, N. Y.

Application December 28, 1948, Serial No. 67,630

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in garment hangers, and, more particularly, the aim is to provide a novel and valuable clip-on addendum, of plastic or metal, said addendum comprising a pair of tments of a kind such that each may consist solely of a single one-piece part, both alike, whereby said ntments, or hanger extensions as they will below be called, may be snapped on an ordinary wooden garment hanger at the opposite ends thereof to modify the effective drape-length of the hanger to conform precisely to the shoulder width of a particular coat, suit jacket, overcoat or the like to prevent sagging of such a garment at its shoulders.

A feature of the invention is that no change of or addition to the ordinary wooden hanger need be made `to make use of the invention, whether such hanger be the one or the other of the two practically universally manufactured types thereof. Yet the hanger extension of the invention is of a shell-like construction such that it may be readily made as a single metal stamping, or as a single piece readily and inexpensively molded from a selected plastic. In some of its possible different embodiments, nevertheless, the new device may be merely frictionally coupled to and adjusted on an end of the garment hanger,

and in others of such embodiments it may be positively gripped to the wood material of the hanger, to preclude sliding or rocking of the eX- tension; and in any case in a manner to permit ready release of the extension, for changed adjustment on or removal from the hanger.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, refer-- ence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 side elevation shows a widely used type of wooden garment hanger, equipped with a pair of etensions of the new invention in one favored embodiment of the latter.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the parts as arranged in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged central longitudinal section of the hanger extension shown in full lines at the right in Fig. 2, this view being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation, looking toward the left in Fig. 3.

Y Fig. 5 is a transverse section, taken on the line 's-sofriga n n v Fig. 6 illustrates a modified outer end formation of a hanger extension, to give a saddle like support at the outer end thereof; this view being a top plan view of such modification, at the portion thereof which might be located to the right of the dot and dash line 6 of Fig. 3

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but illustrating another modification; and each of Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are views also similar to Fig. 5 but illustrative of further modications.

Figs. 11 and 12 are, respectively, views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, but showing the new extension in a form similar to the form thereof shown in Figs. 1-5 as applied to the other of the two already mentioned types of wooden hanger substantially universally manufactured; these eXtensions beingalike except that those shown in Figs. ll and 12 are of less interior width than the extensions of Figs. 1-5, in view of the familiar lesser thickness of the drape-support .member of the hanger of Figs. 11 and 12 as compared with the familiar greater thickness of the drape-support member of the hanger of Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 13 is a partially broken away and partially sectional perspective view of a now particularly favored embodiment of the hanger extension of the invention; this being drawn to the same scale as Figs. 3-10, and being shown as at its shell cavitation having a width conforming to the width of the drape-support member of the hanger of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 14 is a vertical central longitudinal section, taken on the line Ill- I 4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a transverse vertical section, taken on the line |5--l5 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 1e illustrates a variation of the embodiment of Figs. 13-l5 and which is now believed to be the best form of the latter; this Fig. '16 being a section taken as though on the line |5--I 5 of Fig. 13 as is definitive of the section of Fig. 15.

Figs. 17 and 18 are similar views to Fig. 7, but showing additional modifications.

Referring to the drawing more in detail. and first to Figs. 1 5, the garment hanger here shown is a very familiar one, comprisinga drape-supporting member or main bar 20, made of two like wooden parts secured together as at 2B, bottombraced by a wood dowel 2l, and having an upstanding bent-wire hook 22. Such a hanger is much more expensive than the equally familiar bent-wire hanger, whichlatter are often giveaway hangers from the pressing tailor or dry cleaner; but these bent-wire hangers are not favored, because of the wire-line pressure they 3 exert against the shoulders of the garment hung thereon.

The new hanger extension as shown in Figs. 1-5, and as a whole marked 23, is shell-like, as will be noted, and may easily be made to present all along its upper length a convexlyV laterally rounded top in conformity with the usual lateral rounding of the hanger main bar 20 all along its upper length, The extension 23, also as will be noted, may have a proper downwardly curved nose 24, and otherwise a rectilinear extension at its upper portion, to conform precisely to the same characteristic of said main bar 20. Said extension 23 also has a pair of like side walls, and, these completing its structure, makes it possible to use one of the extensions 23 variously as shown in terms of Figs. 1 and 2 at the right hand end of the said main bar 20, and similarly to use a duplicate thereof at the left hand end of said bar. Each of said side walls is shown as comprised of a strip-like portion 24, and, adjacent to the butt end of the extension, a wider or wing like portion 25, this desirably somewhat shorter than the por- `tion 24.

With the spacing between said side walls a trifle less than the thickness of said main bar 2U, each extension 23 may be instantaneously snappedv on an end of said main bar, and variously adjusted thereon, as between or beyond the limits of slidable adjustment indicated at the right in Fig; 1', in full lines and in dot and dash lines.

The modification of Fig. 6 has already been sufficiently explained in the brief description of that View; but it may be pointed out that the parts here to which are applied reference numerals with the suffix a added correspond, respectively, to the parts to which have been applied the same reference numerals without suflixes.

The modication of Fig. '7, wherein the parts marked 23b and 26h correspond, respectively, to the parts which have been marked 23 and 26, illustrates the sid-e walls including the wings 2Gb as resiliently biased toward convergence at their lower limits.; whereby when an extension 23b is applied to an end of the hanger main bar 29, said walls will be elastically spread to the dispositions indicated'in this view in dot and dash lines, thereby to obtain a very tight grip on the sides of said main bar.

The modification of Fig. 8, wherein the parts marked 23c and 26C correspond, respectively, to the parts which have been marked 23 and 26, illustrates one Aof the side walls 26 as having a bottom roll 21 and the other of said side walls as having a bottom inwardly directed longitudinal bead 28; these for line-pressure against the wood material of the hanger main bar 2li. Such roll or bead may be on both said side walls; or said roll Yand bead may both be on each side wall; or

Yone sidewall may be plain, with the other side wall equipped with said roll and/or bead or an equivalent or equivalents.

4 and parallel ribs 33. This view also shows the ribs of each such plurality gradually increasing in height or horizontal lateral dimension according as said rib is closer and closer to the bottom of its side wall.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, the garment hanger here shown is the other very familiar one made of wood, this hanger comprising merely a generally curvilinearly extending drape-support member or bar 3 l, substantially of uniform width from end to end, and lath-like in that its thickness is considerably less than its width; and an upstanding bent-wire hook 32. This hanger, because of its relatively thin bar 3|, is by some persons less favored than the hanger 20-22, although the hanger .3l-32 is not as costly as is the hanger 2li- 22. the advantages thereof and the advantage of the hanger 20-22, may be obtained in connection with the hanger 3i-732; as by incorporating in Y the hanger extension 23f of Figs. 11 and 12 the The modification of Fig. 9, wherein the parts marked 23d and 26d correspond, respectively, to the parts which have been marked 23 and 2'6, il-

lustrates both of the side walls 26d as having saddle feature described above in connection with Fig. 6, for instance as indicated in dot and dash lines at the right in Fig. 12, where the hanger extension 23g is shown as incorporating at 23h said saddle feature. The hanger extensions 23f and 231g are indicated merely in dot and dash lines, as these may be assumed to correspond structurally to the hanger extensions 23, except for a lesser width. s

In Figs. 13-15 a particularly now favored embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Here the parts to which are applied reference numerals with-primes added correspond.. respectively, to the parts to which have been applied reference numerals without primes or suffixes; but at least one of the wing portions of the .two side walls is extended downwardly to provide a wing the main portion 33 of which has projected therebelow a finger-pull tab 34. Said main wing portion carries one or more inwardly directed prongs 35. If an extension 23 is made as a metal stamping, these prongs may subsist as struck-out tongues as illustrated. If such extension is molded from a suitable plastic, the prongs may be teat-like projections. the extension will be elastically flexible, with the wing 33-34 resiliently biased to parallelism with the wing 26 or biased even-t0 a slight downward convergence toward the latter pursuant to the principle illustrated in Fig. 7. As will be understood, the spacing between the two wings and all along the two side walls will agree with the widthv of the hanger bar 2i) or 3|, as the case may be. In use, an extension 23' may be secured to an end of said bar, may be removed therefrom, or may be adjusted therealong, merely by rst pressing on the tab 34 to elastically dispose it as indicated in dot and dash lines at 34a in Fig. 15, and 'then releasing said tab. When the tab is releasedy the snap action resulting causes the prongs 35 to dig sufficiently into the Wood material of .the bar 20 or 3| to cause such bite to coact with the top of the extension to give the same what may be called a three-point and hence anon-slidable and non-rockable lock relative to said bar; one of said points being at either of said prongs and the other two of said points being at anytwo well spaced points along the length of thetop of the extension.

Referring to Fig. 16, the extension 23j here shown is exactly like the extension 23" of Figs. 13-15; the parts of the former marked 26", 33', 34 and 35 corresponding, respectively, "to the parts-of the latter marked 26'. 33, 34 and 35.

By the present invention, all

In any event, the material used for 5 A lip 36, like one of the lips 29 of Fig. 9 is, however, also included. This lip, along with the bottom of the wing 26", gives added insurance against downward rocking of the outer end of the extension, even when the extension is projected to a large amount beyond the main bar of the garment hanger, and the garment placed on the hanger is, say, a heavy winter overcoat. Also, with said lip present, the prong or prongs 35' may be of very low height.

As will be noted, all the various above-described forms of the invention are readily slidably mountable on and demountable from the main bar of the hanger; it being noted that the bar 20 of the hanger of Figs. 1 and 2 is commonly made as shown so that said bar along each of its major terminal lengths has rectilinearly extending and parallel top and bottom surfaces, and that the bar 3| of the hanger of Figs. 11 and 12 is commonly made as shown so that said bar along each of its major terminal lengths has arcuately extending and concentrically arcuate top and bottom surfaces.

In Fig. 17 the extension 23f is shown with converging wings 26f and are shown to terminate in bottom interned lips 29f.

In Fig. 18, the members 23g, 26g and 29g are similar to the members 23f, 26f and 29f, respectively in Fig. '17. In this form of invention inwardly directed prongs 35g are shown to be extending from the converging wings 2lig for securely gripping the Wood material of the bar 20 or 3|.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. A snap-on extension for an end portion of' a main bar of a wooden garment hanger, comprising an elongated shell of uniform inverted U-shaped cross-sectional configuration from end to end and having a top wall for resting on the top portion of the end portion of the main bar and side walls depending along the sides of the end portion of the main bar, and inturned lips on the bottom edges of said side walls extended inward and adapted to extend along the bottom face of the main bar for retaining said shell against being lifted accidentally ofi the end portion of the main bar, said side walls being converged downward and inward to be resiliently biased outward by the main bar to frictionally grip the sides of the end portion of the main bar and maintain said lips in position beneath the end portion of the main bar.

2. A snap-on extension for an end portion of a main bar of a wooden garment hanger, comprising an elongated shell of uniform inverted U-shaped cross-sectional conguration from end to end and having a top wall for resting on the top portion of the end portion of the main bar and side walls depending along the sides of the end portion of the main bar, and inturned lips on the bottom edges of said side Walls extended inward and adapted to extend along the bottom face of the main bar for retaining said shell against being lifted accidentally off the end portion of the main bar, said side walls being converged downward and inward to be resiliently biased outward by the main bar to frictionally grip the sides of the end portion of the main bar and maintain said lips in position beneath the end portion of the main bar, and inwardly directed prongs formed on the inner faces of said side walls for engaging the sides of the: end portion of the main bar for holding said shell against longitudinal movement in either direction relative to the main bar.

WILLIAM L. TAUB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,213,569 Wordingham Jan.. 23, 1917 1,817,369 Hadden Aug. 4, 1931 2,335,285 Kinney Nov. 30, 1943 2,419,621 Harris et al. Apr. 29, 1947 2,421,433 Poole June 3, 1947 2,481,737 Gartner Sept.. 13, 1949 2,495,335 Lee et al, Jan. 24, 1950 

